Hi there,

My mazda RX8 is currently out of warranty and has a coolant leaking issue, does anyone have any idea on how much Mazda charge for a diagnosis or any other mechanic?

Thanks,

Geoff

Well if they can really diagnose the problem then it is ok.

Is that really coolant it is leaking?

If you want the mechanics that look after my car, and also don't cost you much (I am sure he is cheaper than Mazda). PM me. He is in Mitcham area (if that is convinent to you).

Yep, its coolant. Green fresh patch on the floor T_T. Still cant do much till tomorrow due to easter Monday.

Hi guys,

Im preparing for the worse, i think my engines about to go and will require a rebuilt one. As far as im concerned how do I go about this?. Where can i get a rebuilt engine and how much will it cost. As far as quality rebuilts im after something that will atleast reach 100k miles!!.

And oppinions are welcomed.

Thanks,

Geoff

Hrmm I'm becoming quite keen to sell the car for as little as $19000. It was fun to begin with till the problems arrise, coolant and oil leaks...leads me to believe I require a new rebuilt engine. Do you guys think 18-19000 is a good deal for the car it is? I still think its better than $25000 for one, since u have $6000 to spare for a fresh engine that will outlast a preowned one.

Decisions, decisions...rebuild or trade in.

Please help me on this, and as for the above post i'll require some information on rebuilts aswell to further make my judgement.

Feeling depressed T_T

Please feed me some oppinions, Thanks!!!

BUMP

If you want the mechanics that look after my car, and also don't cost you much (I am sure he is cheaper than Mazda). PM me. He is in Mitcham area (if that is convinent to you).

Hi takahashi,

When your availible please PM me his number. I think my cars hit a dead end and will be requiring a rebuilt.

Thanks!!

ah i hate coolant leaks! =[

hope you get it fixed!

I found out wasnt just coolant but oil aswell!!

Hi guys,

Is anyone here able to get in touch with Takahashi in regards to an rx8 mechanic. I need it urgently fast by tomorrow morning. I really wanna know whats happening to my 8.

Sorry for any concerns,

Thanks.

Hi there,

Can anyone pin point for me some good reliable rotary mechanics in the south eastern suburbs of victoria? Currently having problems with my car, might require a rebuild but im not too sure.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Geoff

Can't say how much a rebuild will cost in total, but Mazda Australia charged me roughy $2 grand in labour alone...

I'll double check because that might have included afew other parts l wanted to replace at the time..

Taking a side step, if your still passionate about the car, then rebuild. I did it and l'm still happy. If not, look else where, life's to short to own the same car twice. Maybe a BMW or 370z?

From the sounds of it if the coolant leak isnt coming from the actual cooling unit but from the rotor housing you have a possible engine rebuild on your hands .

Whatever you do dont go to any Mazda Stearlership they will rip you off on the cost of a rebuild .

Contact Simon from Promaz Automotive , he has had plenty of experience with RX8 servicing , Rebuilds and turbo kits etc .

Promaz

18 Tuscan CRT , THOMASTOWN , VIC 3074

03 / 94623727 ............. FAX 0394623721

Cheers
Michael

From the sounds of it if the coolant leak isnt coming from the actual cooling unit but from the rotor housing you have a possible engine rebuild on your hands .

Whatever you do dont go to any Mazda Stearlership they will rip you off on the cost of a rebuild .

Contact Simon from Promaz Automotive , he has had plenty of experience with RX8 servicing , Rebuilds and turbo kits etc .

Promaz

18 Tuscan CRT , THOMASTOWN , VIC 3074

03 / 94623727 ............. FAX 0394623721

Cheers
Michael

Done abit of a search:
Good Service Places - The Short List
http://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php?p=1297838&postcount=6

Have you tried taking it to Mazda themselves? My local dealer has been quite good (except part prices :-( )

Contact Simon from Promaz Automotive , he has had plenty of experience with RX8 servicing , Rebuilds and turbo kits etc .

Promaz

18 Tuscan CRT , THOMASTOWN , VIC 3074

03 / 94623727 ............. FAX 0394623721


Forgot about these guys. Try them before the dealer, heard nothing but good things about promaz...

From the sounds of it if the coolant leak isnt coming from the actual cooling unit but from the rotor housing you have a possible engine rebuild on your hands .

Whatever you do dont go to any Mazda Stearlership they will rip you off on the cost of a rebuild .

Contact Simon from Promaz Automotive , he has had plenty of experience with RX8 servicing , Rebuilds and turbo kits etc .

Promaz

18 Tuscan CRT , THOMASTOWN , VIC 3074

03 / 94623727 ............. FAX 0394623721

Cheers
Michael

Hi there,

thanks for the input, im still hoping its a hose which has gone off and not the rotor housing. The coolant patch seems to come from the left side of the car if you look front on.

I was wondering if selectmaz is any good oppose to promaz in terms of prices and results?

Regards,
Geoff

anyone here got a rebuilt yet? i was wondering how much you paid and where you got it from.

Just inspected the bottom of my 8 again, i see a drip of oil sliding off the radiator, it mightve been coolant im not too sure. But it was something dripping LOL.

Both the guys above can do a good job but first ascertain exactly whats wrong with your ride anyone will take advantage of an owner who panicks and knows shit about their rides .

So relax educate yourself and then act dont be a bunny , ring around speak to as many people as u can price the work that you may need to be done .

OK, I am posting this info up just to tell you of a procedure used from the 70's when we had 100's of Rotaries (R100,RX-2,RX-3) with coolant entry into rotor housing...in other words owners would notice a loss of coolant from their reserve tank, but NO external leaks..

This was done by removing the radiator cap on a hot engine, Now we know the RX-8 does not has an easy removable radiator cap, but a cap exits on your coolant bottle and should (not certain) give you the same results.

With cap removed on a hot engine you have someone rev the engine to 2700RPM (60 seconds) or there abouts and look in coolant tank through removed cap opening/neck, if you can see very small bubbles floating to the top in a tiny single stream (usually) you have an internal coolant leak, what is causing the bubbles is blow-back compressions into your cooling system because your inner housing seal is perished and a full rebuild is the only way to fix it as the condition will only get worse.

As I said I can not be certain this will work on an RX-8 cooling system, but I can't see why not.

A very bad internal leak will cause larger back pressure and larger bubbles, but if it is that bad usually your engine will not start anyway because the rotor chambers are full of coolant.

BTW: Sometimes at the early stage the bubble stream is extremely fine (pin head size or less).

Note: You must be EXTREMELY CAREFUL when you remove ANY radiator cap on a HOT engine...WARNINGS APPLY AS USUAL.

Hey mate...you don't need 4 new threads on the same subject.. ;)..

1. Are you the original owner?
2. How many K's have you done?, what year?
3. Have you tried to get a Mazda Dealer approach Mazda Australia on a Goodwill or Part Payment on a new engine?

Sell it.

Decisive response Revolver - because of the owner's approach to the problem or because of the problem? Though I don't think any of us know yet what the underlying cause of the problem is.

Coolant+oil leaks, taking to a mechanic now...will keep you posted on where the leaks are coming from.

OMG I LOVE MY CAR EVEN MORE.....GOT IT BACK FROM MECHANICS. The oil leak was coming from underneath the radiator due to loose bolts. The coolant leak was from either a weak radiator cap. The mechanic said my car will easily reach 200000km's, and that I should only worry about the seal's as the rotor housing is still strong and good. So in 5-6 months time ill just get my engine rebuilt regardless what condition it is.

Feeling so happy at the moment, for everyone that has contributed some input. THANKS ALOT!!!

OMG I LOVE MY CAR EVEN MORE.....GOT IT BACK FROM MECHANICS. The oil leak was coming from underneath the radiator due to loose bolts. The coolant leak was from either a weak radiator cap. The mechanic said my car will easily reach 200000km's, and that I should only worry about the seal's as the rotor housing is still strong and good. So in 5-6 months time ill just get my engine rebuilt regardless what condition it is.

Feeling so happy at the moment, for everyone that has contributed some input. THANKS ALOT!!!

You went to Simon?

Went to dads friends workshop...his decent with rotarys not the best but his worked on a few rx7s but mainly pistons.

oh and yeah, it wasnt engine oil leaking it was tranny oil.

So in 5-6 months time ill just get my engine rebuilt regardless what condition it is.

I'm going to regret this I'm sure but why would you have your engine rebuilt regardless of its condition? If it ain't broke, etc...

Decisive response Revolver - because of the owner's approach to the problem or because of the problem?

I'm reasonably certain you know the answer to that question...

How did you go with my mechanics?

If you wanna chat before posting. I am on MSN later tonight.

Good to hear!

Also, no point rebuilding if nothings wrong, unless your going FI. That's just my opinion...

I'm going to regret this I'm sure but why would you have your engine rebuilt regardless of its condition? If it ain't broke, etc...

Agreed, unless your going FI?

woulnd't fresh seals be alot cheaper than getting a full remanufactured engine?

i dunno how the cars been treated, i bought it @ 80000km's. Still on original engine and brand new engine mounts. so im kinda concerned, will be doing a compression test soon.

Fixed, still tempting to sell...not sure yet. I drive about 600kms just for work every week, the wear and tear on a beatiful RX8, i just think its worth it. Plus the petrol and maintenence on top T_T. Either getting a second POS to drive to work, or sell the car and go back to a piston engine which i can abuse without worrying :D.

Relax Geoff.

Just drive it easy when the engine is cold, then treat it like any other car.

Give it a good rev on occasion.

Don't compression check it, save your money....times are tough.

Let him do what he wants with his money ... why get frustrated when you see people wanting to shred their money?

Some people are stressheads ... they buy a rotary because they've always wanted one and then they stress about the repairs they'll have to do, hence the reason why the RX8 had a noticeable presense on the second hand market months after being released.

Any mechanic worth his salt is able to maintain a rotary, there's nothing special about maintaining it at the end of the day.

If he wants to throw his money away let him! Support the local economy I say, go finance a mechanic's child through private school!

Relax Geoff.

Just drive it easy when the engine is cold, then treat it like any other car.

Give it a good rev on occasion.

Don't compression check it, save your money....times are tough.

Hi Gomez!

Good reply...I agree

How is your FD RX-7 going...I must check in the RX-7 Club Forums, I don't have a user, would a rotary "brother" be welcome?

Ash

...I must check in the RX-7 Club Forums, I don't have a user, would a rotary "brother" be welcome?

Ash

Judging by that ausrotary thread, I'd wear your thickest skin and bullshit protector Ash... :lol:

Judging by that ausrotary thread, I'd wear your thickest skin and bullshit protector Ash... :lol:

Thanks for the heads up Dave...MMmmm the enemy, but hang on we are ALL Brothers aren't we????:lol::lol::spank:

Speak for yourself. :)

Perhaps some of the more retarded members on there have been adopted? :uhh:

And maybe dropped as a baby... :eyetwitch

Several times... :eyetwitch:eyetwitch

Seriously, although there's no doubt some good people on there, the mouthy ones do their best to discourage any widening of the gene pool... :banghead:

Hrmm I just inspected the car after putting in a new radiator cap. The leak is still persistent when the cars parked in 1 spot long enough, you can notice a patch of coolant on the floor. This is driving me insane. I cant see to find where the leak is coming from when i look at the the hood. Will need to put it on a hoist again.

Hrmm I just inspected the car after putting in a new radiator cap. The leak is still persistent when the cars parked in 1 spot long enough, you can notice a patch of coolant on the floor. This is driving me insane. I cant see to find where the leak is coming from when i look at the the hood. Will need to put it on a hoist again.

:rant: You have multiple threads on the same problem, causing my brain some confusion. Ask a mod to stitch them together, please.

I'd pull the battery and battery tray out so you can look under the coolant reservoir and left side of radiator (when looking at front of car) to see if you can spot the leak. Taking off the radiator cap will make the coolant drain out faster - so do after you've removed the battery / tray and you're ready to look for leak with engine off.

If you don't spot it from the top, you can remove the under cover (but IMHO that's not as easy as removing the battery & tray).

cheers!

You could invest in a Radiator "Pressure Testing Tool " if you want to, it is a Pump device that goes where your coolant tank cap is, then you pump it up (Gage on tool) to a high PSI (cant remember the numbers) the tool holds the pressure in your system and then you look for leaks or drips...

Or you should be able to get this done at your Mazda Dealer or radiator "Specialist" for a small fee.